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Starting at 04:00 on Friday, March 19, England will add several countries to its “red list” in a measure that it says will protect its vaccination program “against worrisome variants.” Along with Ethiopia, Oman and Somalia, the country of Qatar will now face increased travel restrictions. Adding Qatar to the list is particularly inconvenient for international travelers heading to London, as Qatar Airways has been an airline providing vital long-haul connections, while other airlines suspend routes.
What does it mean to be on England’s red list?
With the latest UK red list update, what does it mean for a country to be in this category? According to the English government site, this means that British, Irish and third-country nationals with residency rights (including long-term visa holders) arriving from red-list countries will need to be quarantined in a quarantine facility. of hotel approved by the government for 10 days.
This movement “New data continues to show an increased risk of importing worrisome variants,” the government notes.
The government statement goes on to say:
“With more than 24 million vaccines delivered in the UK So far, the move will help reduce the risk of new variants, such as those first identified in South Africa and Brazil, entering England. “
Therefore, as of 04:00 on Friday, March 19, visitors who have departed or transited these countries in the previous 10 days will be denied entry to England. Only British and Irish citizens, or those with residency rights (including long-term visa holders), will be allowed to enter and must stay in a government-approved facility for 10 days.
During their stay, they will be asked to undergo a coronavirus test on the second and eighth days.
What about other parts of the UK?
Due to the division of governmental jurisdictions, other countries that are part of the UK have their own lists and restrictions. Therefore, it appears that, at the time of publishing this article, Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland do not have a similar restriction in Qatar. Scotland is of particular interest as it is the only other destination to which Qatar Airways currently operates a direct service from Doha, which flies to the capital city of Edinburgh.
Scotland’s list was last updated on March 1, which means there is a chance that it could follow England’s move and add Ethiopia, Oman, Somalia and Qatar to its own list of “acute risk countries” . In general, the UK countries have had pretty similar travel restrictions.
However, those flying direct from Doha to Edinburgh will still face a number of requirements. Travelers must have proof of a negative coronavirus test (COVID-19), which must be taken three days before the start of the trip to Scotland.
Does this new update to England’s red list affect you? Share your experience with us by leaving a comment.
